If the car starts to slide, steer into the skid and keep your feet off the brake and throttle until the vehicle is back under control.

Meanwhile strong winds could bring down branches or trees in Gloucestershire this afternoon, and the public should be aware of possible debris being blown around.

Gusty winds may cause problems for high-sided vehicles on prone routes, and all motorists should drive with care and be braced for potential localised travel disruption.

The AA advises motorists driving in windy weather, to "expect sudden gusts at any time but particularly on open stretches of road, when passing bridges or gaps in hedges or when overtaking high-sided vehicles".

Motorists should keep both hands on the wheel, particularly if they are being buffeted by the wind or the slipstreams of other vehicles. Drivers should also keep their speed down, because the faster they are travelling the further off-course they are likely to drift in a sudden gust before they get the vehicle back under control.

Keep your distance from all other vehicles and take particular care around cyclists, motorcyclists and horse-riders, the AA says.

If you break down on the motorway or on any busy road in gusty weather, be aware lorries and other high-sided vehicles could be blown off course suddenly and may veer onto the hard shoulder.

It is therefore safer to move to a safe location away from the vehicle rather than wait in the car to be rescued, the AA says.

If you see twigs or small branches in the road there could be a tree or large branch in the road around the next bend. Hitting debris like this at speed could be fatal, the AA warns, so drivers must keep their speed down and drive with great care.

Tuesday is set to be largely dry and cloudy in Gloucestershire, with sunny intervals. Wind gusts will range between 29 and 33mph, and temperatures could feel as low as -1C.

Parts of the region will see light showers overnight, followed by a cloudy Wednesday. It will continue to feel cold – as low as -2C – and wind gusts could reach speeds of 39mph.

Thursday is set to be cloudy but significantly warmer – temperatures could feel as high as 2C. No wind gusts are forecast.

The Friday forecast is similar, and temperatures could feel as though they’ve climbed to 3C on Saturday.